A video featuring an activist encouraging marriage to girls as young as 12 has sparked widespread controversy, inciting significant anger, particularly among child rights defenders. The debate reached a point where calls were made to stop those advocating for child marriages, likening their statements to those of the artists of the song "Shar Zidi Kabi Atay," who were sentenced to two years in prison for their song that incites the rape of minors.
In response to this debate and to highlight the dangers of marrying underage girls, the Donia Coalition, a network of 26 human rights associations, launched the "I Have Hope" campaign. This initiative aims to call for the repeal of Articles 20, 21, and 22 of the family code that permit child marriage.
**Warning Video**
On this occasion, the coalition also released a warning video titled "Broken Dreams," which reveals the feelings of a young girl who married at the age of sixteen, illustrating the psychological effects on the child, especially as she realizes she cannot enjoy her childhood or continue her education to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher.
The Donia Coalition emphasized in a statement that child marriage is a blatant violation of children's rights, particularly for girls, exposing them to multiple risks that threaten their lives and health. It also noted that although statistics from the Ministry of Justice show a significant decrease in exceptions granted in recent years, this data conceals unrecorded practices that are not reflected in official figures.
**13,000 Marriage Requests**
According to source statistics, about 13,000 marriage requests out of 20,000 were accepted in 2022, particularly regarding "Fatiha" marriages or "contract marriages," which evade legislative procedures and thus cannot be tracked.
The rights coalition stressed that legally prohibiting child marriage has become an urgent necessity, accompanied by policies aimed at addressing the root causes of this phenomenon, including combating school dropout rates. They called for the abolition of Articles 20, 21, and 22 of the family code and the adoption of public policies to ensure the protection of childhood in Morocco and to change cultural mindsets and practices that perpetuate the marriage of children through awareness and sensitization.
**Gaps That Exacerbate the Problem**
Meanwhile, it was noted that the Moroccan family code contains gaps that contribute to the exacerbation of the issue of child marriage, such as the lack of a stipulated minimum marriage age and the non-mandatory requirement to combine social research with medical expertise. Additionally, there is a lack of mention of the adult party wishing to marry a minor in the authorization document, the omission of listening to the child, the lack of a clear definition of the child’s best interest, and the non-obligatory adherence to the provisions of Articles 20 and 21 of the family code, which allows for circumvention through a marriage proof document.
**Calls for Legal Amendment**
The Donia Coalition stated that the family code does not align with the spirit of the 2011 constitution in providing justice for women, protecting children's rights, and safeguarding men's dignity while fully respecting human rights. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the code is required to align its provisions with the constitution and international agreements.
Furthermore, they urged all individuals concerned about this issue to share the video using the hashtag #IHaveHope on social media to spread the message. By joining the campaign, everyone can contribute to combating the marriage of young girls and promoting a better future for girls in Morocco.
